Last updated: 26 October 2026
Which faster broadband deal should you pick? When we checked on 26 October 2026, Virgin Media’s gigabit broadband started from £29.99 a month, with Gig1 averaging 1,130Mbps download. If upload matters as much as download, Hey!Broadband’s Gigafast 900 gives 900Mbps both ways for £35 a month, and in parts of Scotland Highland Broadband’s Family 1000 gives 1,000Mbps both ways for £34.99 a month with up to 12 months Switching Credit. Which one you can get depends on your address. This SwitchSquid guide compares the fastest deals on price, upload speed and yearly rises, and helps you work out whether you need gigabit at all. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.
Sources: Virgin Media’s gigabit broadband page, Hey!Broadband’s broadband deals page, Highland Broadband’s packages and pricing page and Ofcom coverage and speeds, all checked on 26 October 2026.
Virgin Media gigabit broadband from £29.99 a month
- Gig1 averages 1,130Mbps download, with gigabit deals from £29.99 a month on Virgin Media’s broadband page on 26 October 2026
- No code needed: no setup fee with self-install, and the Wi-Fi guarantee is included with Gig1
- Main limitation: upload averages 104Mbps on Gig1 unless you add Virgin’s £6 upload boost on full fibre lines
The fastest broadband deals compared
Prices are from each provider’s own page on 26 October 2026. Speeds are the averages each provider quotes. “Symmetrical” means the upload speed matches the download speed, which matters for video calls, sending big files and live streaming.
Deal | Average download / upload | Monthly price | Yearly rises | Contract | Extras | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virgin Media gigabit (Gig1) | 1,130 / 104Mbps | From £29.99 | Shown in the basket | Shown in the basket | Wi-Fi guarantee included | Virgin Media areas |
Virgin Media Gig2 | 2,000 / 200Mbps | After a postcode check | Shown in the basket | Shown in the basket | Wi-Fi guarantee included | Virgin Media areas |
Hey!Broadband Gigafast 900 | 900 / 900Mbps | £35 | £37 from April 2027, £39 from April 2028 | 24 months | Free router and installation | Parts of London and the South |
Highland Broadband Family 1000 | 1,000 / 1,000Mbps | £34.99 | +£4 each April from 2027 | 24 months | Whole Home Wi-Fi Guarantee, cyber security, parental controls | Parts of Scotland |
Highland Broadband Ultimate 5000 | 5,000 / 5,000Mbps | £39.99 | +£4 each April from 2027 | 24 months | Whole Home Wi-Fi Guarantee | Parts of Scotland |
Hey!Broadband Megafast 400 | 400 / 400Mbps | £33 | £35 from April 2027, £37 from April 2028 | 24 months | Free router and installation | Parts of London and the South |
Working out the full cost: Hey!Broadband Gigafast 900 starting in November 2026 is five months at £35, twelve at £37 and seven at £39, which adds up to £892 over 24 months. Highland’s Family 1000 is five months at £34.99, twelve at £38.99 and seven at £42.99, or £943.76, before any Switching Credit. Up to 12 months of Switching Credit could cut that sharply if you are leaving a contract early, so check how much you qualify for.
Do you actually need faster broadband?
Most households need less speed than they think: a family streaming in 4K on a couple of screens can manage well on a few hundred megabits. Gigabit makes most sense in three situations:
Lots of people online at once. Four or more people streaming, gaming and working at the same time will notice the difference.
Big uploads. If you send large video files, back up photos to the cloud or stream on Twitch, upload speed matters more than download. That is where symmetrical full fibre such as Hey!Broadband or Highland Broadband stands out.
Huge game downloads. A 100GB game takes around 15 minutes at 900Mbps and well over an hour at 150Mbps, assuming the game server keeps up.
If none of those sound like you, a mid-speed plan may be the better buy. Our guide to the broadband speed you need has a quick test.
Household | Speed we’d suggest | Why |
|---|---|---|
1–2 people, streaming and browsing | 100–150Mbps | Enough for HD and 4K on one or two screens |
Family of 3–4 with gaming and home working | 300–500Mbps | Headroom for several streams and video calls at once |
Large household, creators or heavy gamers | 900Mbps–1Gbps | Fast downloads and, on symmetrical plans, fast uploads |
Small business from home, big file transfers daily | 1Gbps or more, symmetrical | Upload speed keeps transfers and backups quick |
Hey!Broadband Gigafast 900: £35 a month, same speed both ways
- 900Mbps download and upload for £35 a month on a 24-month plan, £37 from April 2027 and £39 from April 2028
- No code needed: free router and standard installation
- Main limitation: Hey!Broadband’s network covers parts of London and the South only
Why your Wi-Fi may be the real bottleneck
Paying for gigabit is pointless if the signal can’t reach the rooms you use. Most phones and laptops connect over Wi-Fi, and walls, floors and distance cut speed fast. Before you upgrade, try a wired speed test next to the router. If that is fast but upstairs is slow, the fix is better Wi-Fi, not a faster line.
This is why the Wi-Fi guarantees on some of these deals matter. Virgin Media promises at least 30Mbps in every room or a £100 credit on eligible packages, and includes it with Gig1. Highland Broadband includes its Whole Home Wi-Fi Guarantee with Family 1000. Our broadband speed test guide explains how to test properly.
Upload speed: the number most deals hide
Providers advertise download speed in big type and upload in small print. On Virgin Media’s Gig1, the average upload is 104Mbps, less than a tenth of the download. Hey!Broadband and Highland Broadband sell symmetrical full fibre, so their 900Mbps and 1,000Mbps plans upload at the same rate they download. Virgin offers an upload boost for £6 a month on its full fibre lines, which closes the gap if you are in one of those areas.
For most people, 100Mbps upload is plenty. But if you are a photographer, video editor, streamer or you back up a family’s phones every night, symmetrical speeds can save hours each week.
How to upgrade to faster broadband
Check what reaches your address. Use each provider’s postcode checker or our broadband coverage checker. Full fibre networks are expanding street by street.
Check your current contract. If you are still in contract, find your exit fee. Highland Broadband’s Switching Credit is designed to cover that cost on 24-month plans.
Compare full contract cost. Add up every month including the April rises, as we did above.
Order, and let the new provider handle the switch. Under Ofcom’s One Touch Switch process, your new provider arranges the move and your old contract ends on switch day. Our One Touch Switch guide has the details.
Test on day one. Run a wired speed test and note the result. If speeds fall below the minimum guaranteed in your contract and the provider can’t fix it, you may be able to leave without penalty.
Highland Broadband Family 1000: £34.99 a month in parts of Scotland
- 1,000Mbps upload and download for £34.99 a month, down from £79.99, with Whole Home Wi-Fi Guarantee, cyber security and parental controls
- No code needed: up to 12 months Switching Credit on 24-month contracts for new customers
- Main limitation: only in parts of Scotland (Argyll, Fife, the Highlands, the Lothians, Moray and Stirlingshire), and prices rise by £4 each April from 2027
Our view
If you want gigabit download speeds from a national network, Virgin Media from £29.99 a month is a strong price where it is available. If you need fast uploads as well, the symmetrical options win: Hey!Broadband’s Gigafast 900 at £35 in London and the South, and Highland Broadband’s Family 1000 at £34.99 in parts of Scotland, with Wi-Fi and security extras included. Check your Wi-Fi first, and only pay for the speed your household will actually use.
FAQ
How much is Virgin Media gigabit broadband?
When we checked on 26 October 2026, Virgin Media’s gigabit deals started from £29.99 a month, with Gig1 averaging 1,130Mbps download. Price and availability depend on your address, and the yearly rise is shown in the basket. In parts of Scotland, Highland Broadband’s Family 1000 was £34.99 a month.
Is 900Mbps broadband worth it?
It is worth it for large households, heavy gamers and anyone who uploads big files often. For one or two people who mainly stream and browse, 150Mbps to 300Mbps is usually enough. Check your Wi-Fi coverage before upgrading, because it often limits speed more than the line does.
What does symmetrical broadband mean?
Symmetrical broadband has the same upload and download speed, for example 900Mbps both ways. Hey!Broadband and Highland Broadband sell symmetrical full fibre. Many cable and older fibre plans have much slower uploads, such as 104Mbps on Virgin Media’s Gig1.
Can I get faster broadband if I’m still in contract?
Yes, but you may have to pay your current provider’s exit fees. Highland Broadband offers up to 12 months Switching Credit on 24-month contracts for new customers, which can help. Always check your exit fee first so you can compare the real cost.
How much does Hey!Broadband Gigafast 900 cost over a contract?
On 26 October 2026 it was £35 a month until April 2027, then £37, then £39 from April 2028, on a 24-month plan. A contract starting in November 2026 comes to £892 in total. The router and standard installation are free.
Why is my broadband slower than advertised?
Advertised speeds are averages, and Wi-Fi, old devices and busy evening periods can all reduce what you see. Test with a cable plugged into the router first. If wired speeds stay below the minimum in your contract, report it to your provider, which has to try to fix it.
